Daniel Graham freed on licence after under half of Sycamore Gap sentence
Daniel Graham, 41, one of two men jailed for felling the Sycamore Gap tree, has been released on licence. Outlets differ on some dates, including when Adam Carruthers was freed and when both were sentenced.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Daniel Graham, 41, the second of two men jailed for felling the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, has been released from prison on licence. MetroLC “The second of two men who chopped down the Sycamore Gap tree has been released from prison.” Read at Metro ↗ Daily MirrorL “The second Sycamore Gap yob has been freed from prison after serving less than half his sentence.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 2Graham and Adam Carruthers, 34, were each sentenced to four years and three months for criminal damage to the tree and to Hadrian's Wall. MetroLC “Daniel Graham, 41, was sentenced to four years and three months for causing criminal damage to the famous tree beside Hadrian’s Wall” Read at Metro ↗ Daily MirrorL “The former friends were both jailed for four years and three months in May 2025.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 2The Daily Mirror, which broke the news, said Graham served 16 months plus time on remand. Metro, citing the Mirror, gave the same figure. MetroLC “Graham has now also been freed on licence after serving 16 months plus his time on remand, the Mirror said.” Read at Metro ↗ Daily MirrorL “Graham spent more time on remand prior to the trial.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Left · 2The sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, told the pair they would serve 40% of the sentence in custody, with the remainder on licence in the community. MetroLC “Mrs Justice Lambert told the pair they would serve 40% of the sentence behind bars, with the remainder being served on licence in the community.” Read at Metro ↗ Daily MirrorL “The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, told them they would serve a maximum of 40 percent of the sentence when they were sentenced last year.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1The Mirror reported that Carruthers was released while wearing a tag under the Home Detention Curfew scheme, after about 10 months, and that Graham's release will be monitored by the probation service. Metro does not mention the curfew scheme. Daily MirrorL “Carruthers was released under the government’s Home Detention Curfew Scheme, which allows prisoners to serve part of their sentence at home.”“His early release will be monitored by the probation service.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1The Mirror quoted an unnamed source close to the case who said Graham is estranged from his family and has no close friend, that there were concerns for his wellbeing, and that these led to him being kept inside longer than Carruthers. The paper also said he was served an eviction order two years ago at his home near Carlisle. Daily MirrorL “"He is estranged from his family and does not have a close friend in the world ," said a source close to the case.”“But he was served an eviction order there two years ago after he was refused retrospective planning application.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Left · 2A Ministry of Justice spokesperson called the felling "a disgraceful crime" and said offenders released on licence face strict conditions and can be returned to prison immediately if they breach them. Daily MirrorL ““The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree was a disgraceful crime. Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and can be returned to prison immediately if they breach them.”” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ MetroLC “Ministry of Justice spokesman said in a statement on Monday” Read at Metro ↗ Left · 2Both men denied the charges but were convicted. The Mirror said the evidence included footage of the felling found on Graham's phone. Metro said the judge was sure Carruthers cut the tree down while Graham drove him there and filmed it. Daily MirrorL “including footage of the tree being felled found on Graham's phone” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ MetroLC “Mrs Justice Lambert was sure that Carruthers cut the tree down while Graham drove him there and filmed it on his phone.” Read at Metro ↗ Left · 2The Mirror valued the tree at £622,191 and the damage to Hadrian's Wall at £1,144. Metro said the men travelled for over 40 minutes from Cumbria and carried equipment across moorland during a storm in September 2023. They took a wedge from the tree as a trophy, which has never been recovered. Daily MirrorL “valued at £622,191 and "belonging to the National Trust." They also denied a second charge of criminal damage to Hadrian's Wall valued at £1,144.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ MetroLC “They took a wedge from the tree as a trophy that has never been recovered” Read at Metro ↗
Left · 2The two outlets give different dates in places. The Mirror says the sentences were passed in May 2025 and Carruthers was freed in May, while Metro says July last year and April. Daily MirrorL “Carruthers was released in May while wearing a tag after serving 10 months of his sentence.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ MetroLC “Carruthers was released in April, and Graham has now also been freed on licence”“when he was jailed in July last year alongside Adam Carruthers” Read at Metro ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets treat the early release as news about a widely reviled crime. The Mirror's exclusive uses blunt, tabloid language and personal detail about Graham. Metro is more restrained and mostly follows the Mirror's report.
- Emphasis
- The Mirror stresses that the release came after less than half the sentence and gives personal background on Graham and Carruthers. Metro stresses the offence, the trial details and the Ministry of Justice's licence warning.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Metro leaves out the Home Detention Curfew detail and the source's account of Graham's circumstances. Neither outlet gives a release date or a comment from the National Trust, Graham or Carruthers.
- Charged language
- “yob”“partner in crime”“senseless act of vandalism”“man with no friends”
- For example
-
“The second Sycamore Gap yob has been freed from prison after serving less than half his sentence.” — Daily Mirror
“Locals said the plot featured the "man with no friends," Graham, teaming up with the "man with no brains," Carruthers” — Daily Mirror
“They took a wedge from the tree as a trophy that has never been recovered” — Metro
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Daniel Graham, 41, has been released from prison on licence.
- Graham and Adam Carruthers were each sentenced to four years and three months.
- The sentencing judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, said they would serve 40% of the sentence in custody.
- A Ministry of Justice spokesperson called the felling a disgraceful crime and said breaches of licence can mean an immediate return to prison.
- Graham served 16 months plus time on remand.
Where accounts differ
-
When the men were sentenced
- Left
- The Mirror says May 2025. Metro says July last year.
-
When Carruthers was released
- Left
- The Mirror says May, after 10 months. Metro says April.
Daniel Graham person
Graham is reported to have been released on licence after 16 months plus time on remand. He is not quoted. The Mirror's source describes him as estranged from his family and says welfare concerns delayed his release.
“"There were concerns for his well-being. They led to him being kept inside for longer than Carruthers."” — Daily Mirror
“Graham has now also been freed on licence after serving 16 months plus his time on remand, the Mirror said.” — Metro
Adam Carruthers person
Carruthers is described as the man who cut the tree down and as having been released earlier, in April or May depending on the outlet. He is not quoted on the release.
“Carruthers was released in May while wearing a tag after serving 10 months of his sentence.” — Daily Mirror
“Mrs Justice Lambert was sure that Carruthers cut the tree down while Graham drove him there and filmed it on his phone.” — Metro
Sycamore Gap tree other
The tree is presented as a much-loved landmark and symbol of Northumberland. Its felling in September 2023 caused national and international outrage.
“The tree was a symbol of Northumberland and featured in the Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” — Metro
“One of the most photographed trees on the planet, the loss of Sycamore Gap sparked worldwide outrage.” — Daily Mirror
Left2 articles
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Second Sycamore Gap yob freed after serving less than half his sentence
Critical An exclusive that leads on the early release and uses tabloid language about the men and the crime, with background on Graham's circumstances.
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MetroLC ·
Second man jailed for felling Sycamore Gap tree has been released early from prison
Neutral A shorter report that attributes the release to the Mirror, gives the Ministry of Justice statement and recaps the trial.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 12 Oct 13:28 First Daily MirrorL Second Sycamore Gap yob freed after serving less than half his sentence
- 13 Oct 11:23 +21h 55m MetroLC Second man jailed for felling Sycamore Gap tree has been released early from prison
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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